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Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson has re-affirmed the Party’s commitment to universal te reo in schools, and has announced that the Greens will now work with the education sector on a plan to make the language a core curriculum subject.

“Our vision of a bilingual nation will only be reached when all of us are comfortable and confident with te reo Māori. We have a responsibility to ensure that our indigenous language not just survives, but thrives in Aotearoa, and introducing all children to it at school is one of the best ways to make that happen,” Marama Davidson said.

The Green Party has welcomed the establishment of the new Crown-Māori partnership on freshwater, Te Kāhui Wai Māori, and will continue to push strongly for Māori rights over water to be upheld, Co-Leader Marama Davidson said today.

“We welcome the establishment of Te Kāhui Wai Māori as it sends a clear signal that this Government will engage robustly with tangata whenua on their rights to freshwater, as opposed to the previous Government who kicked the can down the road,” said Ms Davidson.

Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson is today attending the 40th anniversary ceremony of the Takaparawhau/Bastion Point occupation to honour the legacy of Ngāti Whātua and their resistance to confiscation.

“The story of the Bastion Point occupation has always made me feel proud, angry, sad and mostly deeply appreciative of the leadership of Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei. Their story of triumph through injustice is still unfolding and evolving,” said Ms Davidson.

The Green Party is celebrating the passage of a Bill that will require coroners to consider Māori protocols, which had its first reading in Parliament last night.

The Coroners (Access to Body of Dead Person) Amendment Bill was drafted by Justice Minister Andrew Little to implement a recommendation in the Māori Affairs Select Committee inquiry into whānau access to and management of tūpāpaku (deceased bodies).

The Green Party is renewing its call to remove the double standard that allows for referendum on the establishment of only Māori wards from law.

It has been confirmed that there will be referendum held during May in Palmerston North, Kaikoura, Manawatū, Western Bay of Plenty and Whakatane, which will likely overturn the decisions of those five districts council’s to establish Māori wards.

The Green Party is today celebrating the Government’s response to a Green-led select committee inquiry into supporting grieving whānau with accessing and managing the tūpāpaku (deceased bodies) of their loved ones.

Responding to concerns raised by Māori about dealing with authorities regarding the tūpāpaku of deceased family members, former Greens Co-leader Metiria Turei initiated the inquiry at the Māori Affairs Select Committee. The inquiry was then driven and led by Green MP Marama Davidson.

Today on the 136th anniversary of the invasion of Parihaka, the Green Party is strengthening its call for a national Parihaka Day, announcing that Marama Davidson will re-enter the Māori Party’s Te rā o Parihaka Bill into Parliament’s Member’s Bill Ballot.

The Bill, which was previously in the name of former Māori Party MP Marama Fox but never drawn, would establish a national day of commemoration to recognise the Crown invasion of Parihaka on the November 5 1881 which was met with non-violent resistance.

The Green Party has reiterated its commitment to universal te reo Māori in schools, following National’s education announcement yesterday.

“It’s good that National is open to Kiwi kids learning a second language and te reo Māori should be at the front of the queue. We want a more ambitious plan for te reo Māori in schools, and the Green Party will make that happen in government,” said Māori development spokesperson Marama Davidson.

“Te reo Māori is one of the official languages of Aotearoa. It is a taonga that should be treasured, valued and nourished.